Cimzia Update

I was the dart board like recipient of my 3^rd round of injections this past Sunday.  My mother is still getting way too much pleasure out of these injections.  I may have to find another nurse! My injections were running one week behind due to finishing up some taxes.  This last go around, I didn’t have any major symptoms, just felt really yuck and tired.  The headache didn’t show up until later in the evening.  This morning, I’m still tired but up trying to check a few to do’s off my list.

The only symptom benefit thus far has been a reduction of the sjogrens: less dry mouth and not having to use the eye drops daily.  I am supposed to take injections every two weeks.  I can assure you that stretching that out to three weeks was too far.  By the end of the 3^rd week, the sjogrens symptoms had retuned.  At this point, I can’t say that the RAD pain has lessened any.

So I went to the discussion boards, reading up on this biologic.  There don’t seem to be as many people taking it.  And it does appear to take several months, 4-6 by some accounts, to get noticeable relief.  And most people are taking it in conjunction with other medications such as methotrexate.  Which makes me shudder just to type.  MTX was a horrible treatment for me.

I am still using the white knuckle approach to the pain.  However, the inflammation has become “system” wide and now I think it’s time to call the doctor and get some type of steroid kick.  Have I mentioned that I’m not fond of steroids?  Mainly the weight gain, but I get extra cranky when on them for an extended time.

So some more research later I found that many patients routinely will take a 3-5 day course of prednisone starting with a 30 mg punch, then 20, and finally 10.  Or even starting with a higher dose and stepping down over the 5 days.  These patients are stating that a shorter course of prednisone is enough to give a 3-4 week relief from their current flair.   The benefit is NOT taking prednisone at a lower dose for an extended time.

In the meantime, I’ve decided to add walking a few days a week and light weight lifting on the opposite days.  Light, as in 15 minute walks and maybe 10 minutes of weights and so far so good.